Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Robert Kraft
Discover the career path of Robert Kraft, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Robert Kraft is an American billionaire businessman best known as the chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and the owner of the New England Patriots (NFL) since 1994. He also owns the New England Revolution (MLS), which he founded in 1996, and previously owned the Boston Uprising (Overwatch League). As of July 2024, his estimated net worth is $11.1 billion, reflecting his success in paper and packaging, sports, real estate, and private equity.
1965: Kraft Received MBA from Harvard Business School
In 1965, Robert Kraft received an MBA from Harvard Business School.
1968: Kraft Gained Control of Rand-Whitney Group
In 1968, Robert Kraft gained control of the Rand-Whitney Group, a packaging company, through a leveraged buyout and remains the chairman.
1970: Kraft Considered Running for Office
In 1970, Robert Kraft considered running against Representative Philip J. Philbin but chose not to due to privacy concerns. He was also discouraged by the suicide of his friend H. James Shea Jr.
1972: Kraft Founded International Forest Products
In 1972, Robert Kraft founded International Forest Products, a trader of physical paper commodities.
1974: Kraft Purchased the Boston Lobsters
In 1974, Robert Kraft and others purchased the Boston Lobsters of World TeamTennis (WTT).
1978: Kraft Folded the Boston Lobsters Franchise
Following the 1978 season, Robert Kraft announced that the Boston Lobsters franchise would fold.
1982: Kraft Invested in New England Television Corp
In 1982, Robert Kraft was an investor in New England Television Corp., which gained control of the channel 7 license for Boston.
1985: Kraft Bought Option on Foxboro Raceway
In 1985, Robert Kraft bought a 10-year option on Foxboro Raceway, preventing Patriots owner Billy Sullivan from holding non-Patriot events at the stadium.
1986: Kraft Named President of New England Television Corp
In 1986, Robert Kraft was named president of New England Television Corp.
1988: Kraft Bought Sullivan Stadium
In 1988, Robert Kraft bought Sullivan Stadium out of bankruptcy court for $22 million. The purchase included the stadium's lease to the Patriots through 2001.
1990: Kraft-Hiatt Endowed Chairs Funded
In 1990, Kraft, along with his wife and father-in-law, funded a joint professorship between Brandeis University and the College of the Holy Cross, establishing the Kraft-Hiatt endowed chairs in comparative religion, which was the first inter-religious endowed chairs in the United States.
1991: Kraft Discussed International Forest Products
In 1991, Robert Kraft discussed the business of International Forest Products, mentioning that they do things for a number of companies, including Avon, Kodak, cosmetics companies, candies, and toys, and that the company produced packaging for products ranging from the Patriot missile to Estee Lauder.
1991: Kraft Sold His Shares in New England Television Corp
In 1991, Robert Kraft exercised his option to sell his shares in New England Television Corp. for an estimated $25 million.
1994: Patriots Sold Out Their Season
Following the NFL's approval of the sale in 1994, the Patriots sold out their entire 1994 season, marking the first full sell-out in franchise history.
1996: Kraft Founded the New England Revolution
In 1996, Robert Kraft founded the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS).
1996: Patriots in the Super Bowl
In 1996, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
1997: International Forest Products Became a Top US Exporter/Importer
In 1997, International Forest Products became a top 100 US exporter/importer.
1998: Kraft Owned the San Jose Clash
From 1998, Robert Kraft also owned the San Jose Clash (later San Jose Earthquakes).
1998: Kraft Considered Moving the Patriots
In 1998, Robert Kraft considered moving the Patriots to Hartford, Connecticut, but ultimately built a new stadium in Foxborough.
1998: Kraft Formed the Kraft Group
In 1998, Robert Kraft formed the Kraft Group as an umbrella for his various interests.
January 27, 2000: Kraft Traded for Bill Belichick
On January 27, 2000, Robert Kraft traded a first-round draft pick to the New York Jets for the rights to hire Bill Belichick as head coach.
2000: Donation to Columbia/Barnard Hillel
In 2000, Kraft donated $11.5 million to construct the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, which is made of the same white stone used in Jerusalem.
2000: Patriots Drafted Tom Brady
In 2000, the Patriots drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round.
2000: Kraft Owned the San Jose Clash
Until 2000, Robert Kraft also owned the San Jose Clash (later San Jose Earthquakes).
2001: IFP Ranked Number 7
In 2001, International Forest Products was ranked No. 7 on the Journal of Commerce's list of top US exporters/importers.
2001: Tom Brady Became the Team's Starter
In 2001, Tom Brady became the Patriots' starting quarterback.
2001: Stadium Lease Extended
The stadium lease for the Patriots, which Robert Kraft bought in 1988, ran through 2001.
2002: Kraft Financed Stadium for Patriots
In 2002, Robert Kraft financed a $350-million stadium for the Patriots, initially called CMGI Field but later renamed Gillette Stadium.
November 2005: Kraft Met with Liverpool CEO
In November 2005, Robert Kraft met with Rick Parry, the chief executive of English Premier League team Liverpool, expressing interest in investing in the club.
2007: Kraft Developed Patriot Place
In 2007, Robert Kraft began to develop the land around Gillette Stadium, creating a $375-million open-air shopping and entertainment center called Patriot Place, including "The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon" and the "CBS Scene" restaurant.
2007: Robert K. Kraft Field Named
In 2007, after a $5 million payment to Columbia's intercollegiate athletics program, the playing field at Columbia's Lawrence A. Wien Stadium at the Baker Field Athletics Complex was named Robert K. Kraft Field.
2007: Patriots in the Super Bowl
In 2007, the Patriots finished the regular season undefeated before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
2009: Patriots Won AFC East Title
From 2009, the Patriots won 11 AFC East titles in a row.
2011: Kraft Helped Settle NFL Lockout
In 2011, Robert Kraft played a key role in helping to settle the NFL lockout.
2011: Krafts Pledge to Partners HealthCare
In 2011, the Krafts pledged $20 million to Partners HealthCare to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health, an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England.
2011: Patriots in the Super Bowl
In 2011, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
2013: Matching Donations for Boston Marathon Bombing Victims
Following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, Kraft announced he would match up to $100,000 in donations made for the victims through the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.
June 2017: Grand Opening of Kraft Family Sports Campus
In June 2017, Kraft, along with several NFL Hall of Famers, traveled to Israel for the grand opening of the new Kraft Family Sports Campus.
July 2017: Kraft Bought Ownership in Boston Uprising
In July 2017, Kraft bought ownership in the Boston Uprising, one of the first seven teams for the professional esports Overwatch League.
October 2017: Kraft Expressed Interest in Buying a Premier League Club
In October 2017, Robert Kraft said that he was "still intrigued" by the possibility of buying a Premier League football club, but that he was concerned about the lack of a salary cap in British football.
2017: Kraft Founded the Boston Uprising
In 2017, Robert Kraft founded the Boston Uprising, an Overwatch League esports team.
2017: Kraft Supported Ryan O'Callaghan
In 2017, Robert Kraft supported former Patriot Ryan O'Callaghan when he publicly came out as gay.
2017: Kraft Named Honorary Chairman
In 2017, Robert Kraft was named the Honorary Chairman of the board of directors for the successful joint Canadian-Mexican-American bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2017: Patriots in the Super Bowl
In 2017, the Patriots represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and lost.
2018: Donation to Combined Jewish Philanthropies
In 2018, Kraft donated $10 million to Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for the renovation of its headquarters in downtown Boston.
June 2019: Kraft Receives Genesis Prize and Pledges to Fight Antisemitism
In June 2019, Kraft received Israel's Genesis Prize. While at the event in Jerusalem, Kraft pledged $20 million to establish a foundation that will fight antisemitism and combat the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
2019: Support for Families and Criminal Justice Reform
In 2019, Kraft pledged $100,000 to the families of seven motorcyclists killed in a crash. Kraft also teamed with recording artists Jay-Z and Meek Mill, as well as Michael G. Rubin, to announce a foundation of criminal justice reform called REFORM Alliance.
2019: Final Whistle on Hate Soccer Match
In 2019, Kraft, along with Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, hosted a soccer match between the New England Revolution and Chelsea F.C., called Final Whistle on Hate, to raise money to combat antisemitism.
2019: Kraft Hired Bruce Arena
In 2019, Robert Kraft hired Bruce Arena as head coach and sporting director of the New England Revolution.
2019: Tom Brady Left Patriots
In 2019, Tom Brady stopped being the team's starter.
2019: Patriots Continued Winning
Until 2019, the Patriots had won 11 AFC East titles in a row.
May 2020: Super Bowl LI Ring Auctioned for Food Insecurity
In May 2020, Kraft put his Super Bowl LI ring up for auction with proceeds designated to help feed those facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Partnership with Tencent to Donate N95 Masks
In 2020, Kraft partnered with Chinese company Tencent to purchase 1.2 million N95 masks to donate to medical workers in New York and Massachusetts to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
2020: Revolution Had First Playoff Win
In 2020, the New England Revolution had their first playoff win in six years.
May 2021: Patriots plane delivers vaccines to El Salvador
In May 2021, the Patriots' private team plane was used to deliver 500,000 vaccines to El Salvador.
October 2021: Kraft Lends Patriots Team Plane to URI Rams
In October 2021, Kraft lent the Patriots team plane to the University of Rhode Island Rams football team after the team's charter flight fell through, covering all costs.
April 2022: Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund at Harvard Business School
In April 2022, Harvard Business School announced the creation of the Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund, committing $24 million to benefit potential students with limited means to attend HBS.
October 30, 2022: Foundation to Combat Antisemitism Ad
On October 30, 2022, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), which was founded by Kraft, sponsored an ad encouraging people to denounce hate against Jewish people. The ad aired during NFL games and was titled "Stand Up to Jewish Hate."
March 2023: "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" Campaign Launched
In March 2023 Kraft invested $25 million in the "Stand Up to Jewish Hate" campaign which launched through the foundation to raise awareness concerning antisemitism found online.
2023: Patriots Valued at $7 Billion
In 2023, the Patriots were estimated by Forbes to be worth $7 billion, making them one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL.
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